Instant Gratification

I've been giving a lot of thought to the statements of a concerned parent that came near the end of our meeting with the mayor on Monday and I am wondering what changes can be made in the very short term to impact the overcrowding issues and the leadership turnover issues.  The Concerned Parent also brought up the very good point that, while our struggling students and students with identified learning issues are well served, the students who are excellent performers at the elementary school level are not well served.

The short term responses to overcrowding are especially difficult because of state and federal mandates regarding space allocation.  I do think, though, that while the educational architecture consultant prepares the report that will be complete in November, there needs to be an inventory of the available space in the District.  I know that this was on the Superintendent's plan, however, I haven't seen a plan that includes some simple fixes.  For example, if the Whittemore is overcrowded, why was the Parent Information Center moved there?  Couldn't the PIC and the Central Office, currently housed at the High School, be moved to office space, since they are, in fact, offices?  

When I look at the beautiful facilities at the Fitzgerald, with its Music Room with a special insulated door to keep the music in; and the Computer Room, built with a private grant, with its special wiring and server closet and its desks bolted to the floor for better access to power, I hate to think that these rooms might be given over to use as 'regular' classrooms.  At the same time, I am equally concerned that an ELL class will be meeting in what was a teachers' work-room and the LBRR classes are combining two grades to fit into what were the Science and Drama classrooms.  Is there a way to have the kids move throughout the day instead of having the classroom space designated?  Some creative strategies have already been implemented, including having some Drama classes meet in the cafeteria on the stage when lunch isn't in session, and moving the teachers' workroom to a storage area near the cafeteria.  What do schools in other cities do?  I joked with our PTO Board this year that we need to raise enough money to build a retractable dome over Msgr. McCabe Field.  Maybe it's not so much of a joke anymore.

With reference to the leadership issues, this, I believe, is where the parents can and must get involved.  Elementary schools are mandated by law to have a School Council, composed of parents, who help to set policy and the budget.  The policy must include a track for leadership and there must be frequent and open communication between the Council and the School Committee.  My recommendation is to have a SC member assigned to each school, so that there is a way of insuring that the communication does occur.  The School Council at the Fitzgerald was allowed to lapse by the serial changes in leadership, and it was not supported by our last principal.  Dr. Castelline must be encouraged to help create and support a strong School Council.

I joked on Monday that, while the School Council is mandated, the PTO is just fluff.  It doesn't have to be, though.  The PTO represents the Parents and the Teachers and this existing channel for communication and change must be strengthened beyond fund-raisers to pay for extra school supplies and field trips.  It could be that the PTO reports to the School Council and the Council, with the built-in requirement to communicate with the School Committee, makes it happen.  Parents at every grade level and teachers are the way to find out if policies are serving their purpose or not.  And while leadership is an issue, if there is a strong and empowered group of teachers and staff and an open and supportive group of parents, that strength and communication can go a long way to overcome the potholes of changing leaders.

As far as supporting the kids in our schools who are high achievers -- this is another area for benchmarking.  The Fitzgerald did have very popular and well-attended After School Clubs that were not supported by Anne Marie Carr-Reardon and were viewed as a risk by Mr. LaRoche.  Our PTO was recently granted our 501c3 tax-exempt status, allowing us to have insurance that will cover these programs and to manage the money that comes in from the programs, which are offered at low-cost to pay instructors and cover costs, including scholarships for students with financial need.  It is my hope to offer these programs again this year.  The After School Clubs included everything from Hip Hop Dancing to Woodworking, from Tennis Lessons to Stagecraft, from Creative Arts to Science programming.  

The parent-run After School Clubs worked hand-in-hand with our Enrichment Programs at the Fitzgerald.  The Enrichment programs support the curriculum and feature science and technology programming, as well as historical interpreters and creative artists, including authors.  Each grade gets two Enrichment Programs during the school year, with an additional school-wide program.  Last year, each Fitzgerald student got a signed book after a presentation by a children's author (two age-appropriate authors came.)

It is creative programming like this, parent-initiated and student-centered and teacher-supported and administration-backed, that can make the difference in our elementary schools.

What are your ideas?